Syncing two machines for a performace

Apostrophe · Post by **Apostrophe** » Sun Apr 22, 2007 7:36 pm

I was wondering if it is possible to sync two machines for a real time laptop show. I've been working on a set that's pretty elaborate that uses a number of midi controllers etc., and I wanted to have my colleague do the drums on his laptop while I do everything else. Is this possible? I can imagine a fair number of practical uses for this outside of my own situation.

EDIT: I'm on a PC by the way

sebovzeoueb · Post by **sebovzeoueb** » Sun Apr 22, 2007 7:39 pm

Mac or PC?

hambone1 · Post by **hambone1** » Sun Apr 22, 2007 7:40 pm

Welcome!

Easily done, either using a network cable, or with MIDI interfaces/cables, Mac or PC doesn't matter. I prefer a MIDI cable, as it was easier for me to set up, and has been rock-stable.

In MIDI prefs, set up the master computer to transmit sync, and the slave to receive. Activate the EXT button on the slave computer, and you're done!

sebovzeoueb · Post by **sebovzeoueb** » Sun Apr 22, 2007 10:29 pm

Ah yes, by MIDI it doesn't matter, but by network you need some sort of software MIDI device to do it, and I've only ever done it on Mac by just to test it (Mac OS X comes with a Network MIDI option in the Audio/MIDI setup). Does anyone have experience of how reliable it is to sync up two Mac laptops by Airport?

nobbystylus · Post by **nobbystylus** » Mon Apr 23, 2007 8:48 am

sebovzeoueb wrote:Ah yes, by MIDI it doesn't matter, but by network you need some sort of software MIDI device to do it, and I've only ever done it on Mac by just to test it (Mac OS X comes with a Network MIDI option in the Audio/MIDI setup). Does anyone have experience of how reliable it is to sync up two Mac laptops by Airport?

i wouldn't use Airport in a gig environment.. too much potential interferance. Use a gigabit crossover cable and network your midi that way...

gabster · Post by **gabster** » Mon Apr 23, 2007 3:28 pm

Here is a visual explanation on how I synced two Macs.

Also - I was able to forward scene change from the Master machine (with a little help from a very kind Ableton support guy) - quite clever!

http://www.gabtone.com/gablog/

Gabi.

Apostrophe · Post by **Apostrophe** » Mon Apr 23, 2007 6:46 pm

Wow, thanks for the great advice. I'm on a pc though, so how does one exactly do the network midi on that kind of platform?

gabster · Post by **gabster** » Mon Apr 23, 2007 6:49 pm

In that situation I reccomend using regular direct MIDI cabling.
For example go MIDI OUT from your Master machine interface into the Slave machine's audio interface MIDI IN.
Make sure you turn the Sync to on in the Sync setting on Ableton on the Slave machine.

Gabi.

Michael-SW · Post by **Michael-SW** » Mon Apr 23, 2007 10:10 pm

Apostrophe wrote:Wow, thanks for the great advice. I'm on a pc though, so how does one exactly do the network midi on that kind of platform?

You could try ipMidi (Google it). It is pay-ware but you can use the demo for 60 minutes and then you have to reboot before you use it another 60 mins etc.